Talk to me about Baby Proofing the house...

Re: Talk to me about Baby Proofing the house...

• mrsolsenk12

  February 2011

  Wow a professional for $700!!! Not necessary IMO. We bought 2 gates (one for the top and one for the bottom of our stairs), cabinet locks (2 different kinds. ONe you mount inside the cabinet and some slide locks that are on the outside and hold 2 cabinet doors together). We also got corner edgers for our coffee table so that he wouldn't crack his head on the corners of the coffee table. We also have a package of socket covers (which were a gift). That was about it. I would say we spent MAYBE $150 on everything (the gates are the most expensive).

  

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• RoxBride member

  February 2011

  We did it ourselves.  I would start on gates now, because it can take some time to find the right gate and install it if needed, and so  much easier to do before they are mobile. 

  I'd also start on strapping any furniture to the walls now. 

  Then you can just buy cabinet locks at the store and put them on.  Find all your medicines and chemicals and put them in one very secure location. 

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

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• oct11bride03

  February 2011

  That's insane, IMO. But hey, if someone is willing to pay the money then good for that professional for finding a good business plan.

  We bought gates and that's about it. All our outlets are either blocked by furniture or hard to reach, so we didn't do covers. We removed our coffee table because our TH is so tiny, so no need for corner guards.

  K recently learned how to open cabinet doors so I'm thinking it's time for locks. But that's it. IMO, a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs is the most important if he isn't even crawling yet.

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• madhatter2003

  February 2011

  is your friend a tad on the over-protective side 

  We put in plug sockets covers and moved all chemicals/cleaner/makeup, etc into high shelves in a locket closet and/or in drawers with locks (my makeup).

  We don't have stairs but if you do you'll want a gate that is anchored to the wall at top AND bottom of stairs.

  we padded the fireplace, only because it is rough stone. We bolted the bigger pieces of furniture that could tip to the walls (bookshelves mainly).

   

  That's it. We spent maybe $50 total.  Mostly it was just moving stuff around and putting towels beneath the bathroom sinks and cleaners in the linen closet on the top shelf sort of things. The bolts for furniture were easily found at lowes, etc.

   

  Oh, almost forgot TOILET LOCKS. DD never needed them, but DS loves the toilet for the wrong reason LOL
  

  My two PCOS miracles!
  

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• dusk42

  February 2011

  
  

  Some of my friends did this because they aren't handy and didn't have time to install the hardware-mounted gates, etc. (the H is a neurosurgeon, so I probably wouldn't risk my hands putting up gates either).    

   

  It has taken a long time to get all of our stuff semi-proofed because DH has had to add railings to the stairs, etc.  But really, we have just done outlet covers and moved chemicals out of reach and locked one cabinet.  We moved all the dangerous furniture (a stone coffee table) into a room that she doesn't go in.  We do need to secure the TV and maybe eventually the furniture in her room, and we have to put latches on some of the drawers so she doesn't pinch her fingers when she opens and shuts them.  But really, it's stuff we can do in stages (but just need to do it).  

  
  

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• *Willis*

  February 2011

  I've had several friends use someone, but the quotes weren't that high.  It's usually cost of materials + mark up (like 10%) around here.  I wonder if professional installers are more common in Florida?

  We bought gates and have strapped furniture to the wall. I think the gates alone were $40 to $50 each.  Furniture straps are $5 each.  We've installed some cabinet locks using the magnetic locks, which are fairly pricey.  We'll do drawers as he can pull up.  I've used some of the same stuff that the professional installers used because it was better quality/easier for me to figure out.  Like the magnetic locks.

  We'll do more as he gets older, but it adds up quickly.

  Now the pool fence...that was a sad check to write.  I was sad to spend the $ on an ugly black fence

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• charmcitygirl member

  February 2011

  You can definitely do it yourself.  Take care of the things you know you need to do, and then as your child gets more curious baby proof other things too.

  You definitely need - a gate (if you have stairs or want to block off a room), plug covers, cabinet latches.  After that, its up to you and your LO.  Jacob is a rather curious child so we also added - toilet locks, a plastic thing over our surge protector, wall attachments for our taller book cases, and removal of many of our breakable things from about 3 feet down.

  Good luck!
  

  Allison
  

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• xtencornfield member

  February 2011

  $700 is ridiculous IMO...but I guess if you have the money to blow...

  We are still in active child-proofing mode right now. We covered any exposed sockets, covered the edge of our hearth (rough brick), and are putting cabinet locks on our kitchen cabinets and a few others. We need to pick up one or two more gates and that's about it. Our total will be ~$100 (we got the socket covers and cabinet locks as gifts/donations).

  
  

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